Staff: Mentor

ok i have a simple enough scenario that i need a hand with solving. first off just to say, i dont know how to do the math for it so maybe someone here could help me out.

basically has to do with finding the top velocity of an object with a certain force applied. all in a vacuum and without any form of resistance of course.

so lets say object A (a cubic foot rock, at a 100lbs in weight on earth) is motionless in space. and object B (superman.. but this one can go infinitly fast.. but rather weak) applies a 100lbs of force on the rock for a tenth of a second every 5 seconds..

oh and as the mass of the rock increase with speed the time between applied force will also decrease.

he cant apply more then a 100lbs of force.. how long with it take to reach its maximum velocity and how fast will Mr superman and the rock be going with him push on the rock at all time.

If Newtonian physics were true its speed relative to its starting frame would tend to infinity. It's not true, though, and in relativity the answer is that its speed will tend towards, but never reach, c relative to its starting frame.

In practice the speed would be limited by the fuel supply of whatever was doing the accelerating. When it runs out you can't accelerate any more.

If Newtonian physics were true its speed relative to its starting frame would tend to infinity. It's not true, though, and in relativity the answer is that its speed will tend towards, but never reach, c relative to its starting frame.

In practice the speed would be limited by the fuel supply of whatever was doing the accelerating. When it runs out you can't accelerate any more.

huh? who said anything about fuel. did u read it? no fuel, constant applied force.

Staff: Mentor

Staff: Mentor

huh? who said anything about fuel. did u read it? no fuel, constant applied force.

As I mentioned, we do not discuss fantasy in the technical forums. And there are limitations for what can be discussed in the SciFi section of the PF as well. @Ibix was trying to help you understand the simple Special Relativity considerations behind your question.